Innovative nanocomposite for the effective removal of heavy metals from contaminated water
Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Kamran Hakeem, Muhammad Waseem, Tofeeq Ahmed, Muhammad Qasim, Mohammed A Meetani
Abstracts. Heavy metals are recognized for their potential bioaccumulation and toxicity in the human body. The objective of this study is to develop a nanocomposite that simultaneously removes multiple heavy metal ions by modifying coconut fiber with magnetite (Fe3O4) superparamagnetic nanoparticles (CF-MSPNPs). Different parameters were tested and optimized for the efficient adsorption of heavy metals. Efficient removal was achieved in a short time, and the prepared composite adsorbed mercury ions with a removal efficiency of 98%. On the other hand, non-modified magnetic iron particles adsorb mercury up to 80% for the same concentration. The prepared nanocomposite can be used for industrial applications due to its effectiveness and high efficiency for heavy metals.
Keywords
Heavy Metals, Nanocomposites, Wastewater Treatment, Eco-Friendly, Adsorption
Published online 6/20/2026, 9 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Kamran Hakeem, Muhammad Waseem, Tofeeq Ahmed, Muhammad Qasim, Mohammed A Meetani, Innovative nanocomposite for the effective removal of heavy metals from contaminated water, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 600-608, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-80
The article was published as article 80 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
References
[1] D. Ashraf, R. Morsi, M. Usman, and M. A. Meetani, “Recent Advances in the Chromatographic Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in Dairy Milk: A Review (2018–2023),” Molecules, vol. 29, no. 6, p. 1296, 2024.
[2] M. K. Hakeem, P. Mudgil, S. Maqsood, and I. Shah, “Comprehensive quantification of functional oligosaccharides in camel milk using targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry,” J. Dairy Sci., 2025, Accessed: Aug. 06, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225004771
[3] M. Waseem, N. Ghasem, and M. Al-Marzouqi, “Experimental and simulation study of a catalytic-membrane integrated system for efficient CO2 stripping,” Chem. Eng. Process.-Process Intensif., vol. 211, p. 110216, 2025.
[4] M. K. Hakeem, A. Shah, J. Nisar, F. J. Iftikhar, S. B. Khan, and I. Shah, “Electrochemical sensing platform for the detection and degradation studies of Metanil Yellow,” J. Electrochem. Soc., vol. 169, no. 5, p. 056503, 2022.
[5] M. Usman et al., Ultra-trace detection of carbamate pesticides and their metabolites in camel milk using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography: A food safety perspective. Elsevier, 2025. Accessed: Jul. 16, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225005004
[6] M. Usman et al., “Evaluation of the chronic intoxication of fluoride on human serum metabolome using untargeted metabolomics,” Arab. J. Chem., vol. 15, no. 7, p. 103928, 2022.
[7] S. M. Z. Shah et al., “Untargeted screening of plant metabolites based on data-independent and data-dependent acquisition modes using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS: Tribulus terrestris L. as a case study,” Arab. J. Chem., vol. 16, no. 8, p. 104978, 2023.
[8] J. F. D’Mello, Food safety: contaminants and toxins. CABI, 2003. Accessed: Oct. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VZ2TAIi4q54C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=D%27Mello,+J.F.,+Food+safety:+contaminants+and+toxins.+2003:+CABI&ots=BZhy32MGcM&sig=w4sqLCt7qm6q00MTYfVh4-CLbcE
[9] K. Kubra et al., AI-driven modelling and experimental analysis of oil concentration impact on mayonnaise rheology for innovative food design. Elsevier, 2025, p. 112814. Accessed: Dec. 25, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260877425003498?casa_token=dMyX1N5to0AAAAAA:OUW8T3q19DFyQHkfVg8rHAl3haGbtLQ1QVZqH4y65wFpXCzarBAeRlTHvvN5VPDWQ7-rq-3_rg
[10] Y.-H. Li et al., “Adsorption of fluoride from water by amorphous alumina supported on carbon nanotubes,” Chem. Phys. Lett., vol. 350, no. 5–6, pp. 412–416, 2001.
[11] S. Sibt-e-Hassan et al., “Corrigendum to ‘Lysine-functionalized graphene oxide on cost-effective microporous support: A hydrophilic and fouling resistant membrane for safe lead filtration’[Carbon 233 (2024) 118974],” Carbon, vol. 237, p. 120110, 2025.
[12] R. S. K. Valappil, M. Waseem, N. Ghasem, and M. Al-Marzouqi, “Advanced CO2 capture: Hydrophobic PVDF membranes integrated with stearic-acid modified ZnO nanohybrids,” J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng., vol. 169, p. 105958, 2025.
[13] S. Askar, M. Usman, L. Johnson, D. Thomas, and M. A. Meetani, Determination of multimycotoxins in camel milk products of the United Arab Emirates by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Elsevier, 2025. Accessed: Jan. 04, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225010562
[14] F. Almomani, R. Bhosale, M. Khraisheh, and T. Almomani, “Heavy metal ions removal from industrial wastewater using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP),” Appl. Surf. Sci., vol. 506, p. 144924, 2020.
[15] S. P. Kamble et al., “Defluoridation of drinking water using chitin, chitosan and lanthanum-modified chitosan,” Chem. Eng. J., vol. 129, no. 1–3, pp. 173–180, 2007.
[16] G. Abdulraheem, S. Bala, S. Muhammad, and M. Abdullahi, “Kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics studies of CI Reactive Blue 19 dye adsorption on coconut shell based activated carbon,” Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad., vol. 102, pp. 265–273, 2015.
[17] M. Waseem, M. Al-Marzouqi, and N. Ghasem, “A review of catalytically enhanced CO2-rich amine solutions regeneration,” J. Environ. Chem. Eng., vol. 11, no. 4, p. 110188, 2023.
[18] M. Waseem, M. Al-Marzouqi, and N. Ghasem, “Enhancing regeneration energy efficiency of CO2-rich amine solution with a novel tri-composite catalyst,” J. CO2 Util., vol. 82, p. 102764, 2024.
[19] S. Imam and Z. Zango, “Magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4) impregnated onto coconut shell activated carbon for the removal of Ni (II) from aqueous solution,” Int J Res Chem Env., vol. 8, pp. 9–15, 2018.
[20] S. Basha, Z. V. P. Murthy, and B. Jha, “Sorption of Hg (II) onto Carica papaya: experimental studies and design of batch sorber,” Chem. Eng. J., vol. 147, no. 2–3, pp. 226–234, 2009.
[21] S. K. Das, A. R. Das, and A. K. Guha, “A Study on the Adsorption Mechanism of Mercury on Aspergillus versicolor Biomass,” Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 41, no. 24, pp. 8281–8287, Dec. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1021/es070814g.
[22] C. B. Lopes et al., “Removal of low concentration Hg2+ from natural waters by microporous and layered titanosilicates,” Microporous Mesoporous Mater., vol. 103, no. 1–3, pp. 325–332, 2007.
[23] X. Qi, N. Li, Q. Xu, D. Chen, H. Li, and J. Lu, “Water-soluble Fe 3 O 4 superparamagnetic nanocomposites for the removal of low concentration mercury (II) ions from water,” Rsc Adv., vol. 4, no. 88, pp. 47643–47648, 2014.
